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1973 Map of Brainerd

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Brainerd
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

Brainerd sits at a strategic bend of the Mississippi River, serving as a regional hub for education, healthcare, and conservation during the 1970s. The map illustrates a densely developed core featuring a concentration of local schools like Lincoln Sch and Washington High Sch, alongside larger institutions such as the Brainerd State Hospital and Brainerd Jr College. The industrial and commercial character of the era is evident in the presence of the Burlington Northern railroad lines and the Brainerd Mall.

Beyond the city limits, the landscape transitions into a mosaic of wetlands and managed natural spaces, including the Cooks State Wildlife Management Area and the notably named Poor Farm State Wildlife Management Area. To the south, smaller settlements like Barrows and the outlying Oleson provide a window into the rural distribution of Crow Wing County. The mapping of multiple sandpits and gravel pits near Boom Lake and Rice Lake points to the active resource extraction supporting the region's growth.